Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Orange Mandarin Chicken

This dinner was SO GOOD! I admit that I totally cheated and used microwavable rice and frozen snow peas, but who cares. Delish!

Due to time, I had actually fed Ryan some leftovers before I even cooked. But he kept trying to steal peas and oranges while I was snapping photographs, so I gave him a bowl... and he ate almost everything! I guess this dish is a winner...

Ingredients

2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges in light syrup, undrained

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper

1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic

1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons cornstarch

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned.

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Lauren 101

Before my wedding in 2003, my idea of cooking was Kraft mac and cheese. My mother and my mother-in-law even left me several boxes of the blue box on my counter the day we returned from our honeymoon. I believe a few showed up in the wishing well at my bridal shower, too.

Once I became a Mrs, however, I figured I'd need to step it up in the kitchen.

I rarely prepared anything from scratch, though; it was frozen stuff chicken and rice in a pouch all the way.

About a year (and 20lbs) later, I decided that something needed to change in the kitchen. I went on a diet and lost the weight, but knew I needed to lose the habits too.

Armed with Rachael Ray cookbooks and the internet, I slowly began to expand my repertoire. I joined an online cooking forum and subscribed to about eleventy billion cooking blogs.

Cooking remains a challenge, however, as two sweet little boys joined our family over the last few years. Coupled with my full time job, I look for meals that are healthy and easy.

I also discovered a love for photography along the way, and while I'm about as unprofessional behind the camera as they come, I really enjoy honing my skills on my dinner - mainly because it can't run away like my two wild boys can.